Life – Terror. Ecstasy. Fight. Denial. Flight. Failure. PAIN. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Hope. Love. Peace – Death.
Early Memories
When looking back on the past it is often difficult to distinguish between memories of actual events and occurrences or recollections of others accounts of those events. I certainly have memories of good and bad events in my life some of which have stayed with me and affected me, my life, who I was and who I have become.
The Christmas Grotto ‘Monkeys’
Every year mum would take myself and my sister to TJ Hughes Department store Christmas Grotto. One particular time, captured within a photograph, stands out.
I look around 4 or 5. We are pictured holding two monkeys. Mine is a smaller animal and Carol’s is a large chimpanzee. We were positioned to take a photograph and Carol’s chimp hit her, hard, across the face and then ‘ragged’ her hair. The ‘keeper’ quickly slapped the animal and removed it from my distressed sister, repositioning it on top of a large cage.
Once securely grounded (on top of its cage) the chimp returned the initial slap and a frantic exchange began with both, in turn, slapping each other several times.
Eventually, despite no clear victor, the exchange ceased and the photograph with the monkeys, Carol and myself was taken. You can clearly see that Carol is upset (she had been crying).
One of my earliest (clearest) childhood memories but not the earliest, that would be the incident with David Perry and the washing-line pole.
Glasses
Thanks for reading
Peace
Dying to Live 